Pistol rack

Abstract

A pistol rack having counterweight plates on the front and bottom of the rack shifts the center of gravity of the rack to facilitate more balanced carrying of the rack having pistols in the compartments thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable rack configured to carry and store handguns, said rack comprising:
 a first upstanding, outer sidewall member having a grippable opening therein; 
 a second upstanding, outer sidewall member having a grippable opening therein; 
 a first outer sidewall counterweight plate having a weight sufficient to shift a center of gravity of said rack toward a front and/or a bottom of said rack; 
 a second outer sidewall counterweight plate having a weight sufficient to shift a center of gravity of said rack toward a front and/or a bottom of said rack; 
 one or more upstanding, inner wall members; 
 one or more generally L-shaped support members that each comprise: (i) a bottom portion having a first length and dimensioned to support a heel portion of a handgun grip, and (ii) a forward portion that is transverse and upstanding relative to the bottom portion, said forward portion having a second length that is less than the first length of the bottom portion and a top support surface of sufficient width to support a bottom of a handgun barrel; 
 a plurality of connecting members that extend through said first outer sidewall counterweight plate; said first upstanding, outer sidewall member; at least one of the generally L-shaped support members; at least one of the inner wall members; said second upstanding, outer sidewall member; and said second outer sidewall counterweight plate thereby connecting each in a side-by-side relationship that to form at least two discrete, side-by-side, support compartments; 
 wherein a first connector member extends through the bottom portion of the L-shaped support member, and a second connector member extends through the forward portion of the L-shaped support member. 
 
     
     
       2. A portable rack according to  claim 1  wherein each counterweight plate exhibits a weight within a range from about 100 grams to 300 grams. 
     
     
       3. A portable rack according to  claim 1  comprising 1 to 12 of the generally L-shaped support members. 
     
     
       4. A portable rack according to  claim 3  comprising 4, 8, or 12 of the generally L-shaped support members. 
     
     
       5. A portable rack according to  claim 1  wherein each counterweight plate is a single piece. 
     
     
       6. A portable rack according to  claim 5  wherein each counterweight plate has a lower portion, a forward portion that is transverse to said lower portion, and an angled portion between the lower and forward portions. 
     
     
       7. A portable rack according to  claim 1  wherein each L-shaped support member is made of a single density foam. 
     
     
       8. A portable rack according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second connectors are threaded metal rods. 
     
     
       9. A portable rack according to  claim 1  wherein each L-shaped support member further comprises an upward flange at a rear portion of said support member. 
     
     
       10. A portable rack according to  claim 1  wherein adjacent portions of the outer sidewall members and of said one or more upstanding, inner wall members are longer than the forward portion of each L-shaped support member when assembled. 
     
     
       11. A portable rack according to  claim 1  wherein each generally L-shaped member further comprises an angled portion between said bottom portion and said forward portion having an angle ( 22 ) within the range of 45° to 80° relative to a bottom plane of each generally L-shaped support member.